Ilona Maher’s Team Forced Out Of Stadium For Shocking Reason
DWTS Season 33 runner-up Ilona Maher kicked off her stint as a professional Rugby player in Bristol recently. However, her first match didn’t quite go as expected.
The Bristol Bears were actually forced to relocate to a different stadium to play the match. See why.
Fans Around The World Flocked To See Ilona Maher Play
Ilona Maher won plenty of fans during her run at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. She and the United States Rugby team brought home the bronze medal and nationwide recognition. Afterward, Ilona accepted a role on DWTS Season 33, where she finished in second place with Alan Bersten.
Although Ilona wasn’t the most technically proficient dancer, she and Alan developed a sweet friendship. Fans loved tuning in week after week to cheer them on.
In fact, Ilona Maher’s rise in popularity was the reason her Bristol Rugby team had to switch venues. The Associated Press reports that 9,240 spectators attended her first match on January 5. The original stadium couldn’t accommodate the crowd, so they had to move to Ashton Gate.
The Bristol Bears lost the game 40-17, but fans remained excited to see Ilona in action. She entered the game after 61 minutes.
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“I knew this would be potentially the first game she could play [but] I really didn’t mind if she played or not, I just knew she would be here and I wanted to support the team she had joined. She is so viral, cool, real and funny online that it felt natural for me to jump on a train, order a jersey and get to the game,” fan Tally Bevis told The Guardian.
The DWTS Runner-Up Can’t Wait To Improve Her Game
The Guardian reports that the 28-year-old spent over an hour signing autographs after the match, with everyone eager to talk to the rising Rugby star. The Bristol Bears didn’t win, but Ilona believes she’s going to improve as she goes.
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“I was just trying to watch and understand; OK Ren [Reneeqa Bonner], Millie [David] are doing this, what do I need to do when I get in? I think each game I am going to learn more and more. You do learn a lot by losing but also it puts a fire under you for the next game,” she told the publication.
Were you surprised to learn that the Bristol Bears had to move stadiums to accommodate Ilona Maher’s massive fan base? Have you had a chance to see her play? Share your own thoughts in the comments below.
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